About Beth

My career spans over 25 years with NASA, both in Houston and Washington, DC. I never thought I’d stay longer than 2-5 years. I had a different plan for my life. Space was NEVER part of it. Funny how that happens. Though I never learned to love our process-rich culture and crusty personalities, I fell head over heels for the great unknown — space! And I love her STILL, after all these years. :-D

Before you ask: No, I’m not a Rocket Scientist. I’m a POLITICAL Scientist. I believe in fostering a culture of creativity, innovation, and change. Change can happen inside the wiggle space of any process, program, or organization. Finding that wiggle space…now, that’s our challenge, all you change agents out there. In fact, I’m studying toward a PhD in Planning, Governance and Globalization in the School of Public and International Affairs at Virginia Tech. My topic: Social Intrapreneurship.

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36 responses to “About Beth”

Beth,
I guess I am like you- an outsider who does not fit in with the status quo, yet I LOVE space and everything to do with it. I am so much into space development/settlement that my private nickname amongst the people who know me best is Mr. Space. How’s that for commitment to a cause?
I consider myself a Political Economist with a specialty in the Political Economics of Space Development Projects. Potential contemporaries (or like minded people of a similar research bent and approach to space policies/politics) of mine would be Joan Johnson-Freese, Roger Handberg, W. D. Kay, John Hickman of Mt. Berry College, and the former Mars Socoety/Space Frontier Foundation member/editoralist John Carter McKNight.
I contend that because the Space Community is too small to be of major impact to the world as a whole, while at the same time being unable to agree on what the major goal of space programs and direction of space policy should be. This is due to the multifaceted, multidisciplinary nature of the space community, and the fact we live in an atomized culture, with very little in common with each other as the pre cultural revolution US was before the late 1960’s early 1970’s.
The good thing is that the Internet, Network Means/collaboration overcomes the limitations of authoritarian, bureaucratic, hierarchical organizational schematas, and allows new forms of space collaboration to work and work well. Examples of this would be either the small cubesats built and launched to orbit by 180 some students in Europe, or the Tea Parties in the US in response to Obama’s exceeding his authority.
Many people are taken aback by my seemigly contradictory makeup; a former multi-decade long Republican Party member who was left behind by the Republican Party when they went off course, a NASA supporter who is tired of backing up NASA with no recognition of it by the agency or it’s (so-called) Public affairs office which pretty much does NOTHING, and a would be member of the Libertarian Party who is tired of hearing dangerous cranks like Richard C. Hoagland taken seriously when he should be repudiated and shamed/shunned into the far background and people like you, I, Penny Boston, John Carter McKnight, Mark Whittington, and other, wizened, experienced life-long space supporters move into the forefront of space activism.
I am busy, so I will close, and hope you read this and respond, because I am quite serious about space activism, and being a Revoultionary for Space Development and Space Settlement.
RSVP.
Perry A. Noriega

Perry, so glad you shared your passion for space. We have much to accomplish, and new leadership will take us in unexpected directions. Who knows where we’ll end up. You may want to weigh in with the new Augustine Commission to review human spaceflight activities. Former astronaut Leroy Chiao is a panel member and is requesting input on his blog:http://is.gd/N52u

I did. Wow. Memories….! Hum is STILL one of my favorite NASA managers EVER. He let me bring my own chair to the table, rather than trying to squish me into a chair that didn’t fit. He gave me unsolvable problems, knowing that I would find solutions. He allowed me to speak for him, rather than speaking for me — extremely rare, especially since I was so fresh out of grad school. He treated me like a leader, and let me grow into the role. I’m very fortunate I learned from him so early in my career. We need more at NASA like Hum!

I am the editor of the omega tau podcast (http://www.omegataupodcast.net) and I would like to do an interview with a space shuttle pilot or commander on “how to fly the space shuttle”. Could you perhaps help me get in touch with one of them who’d like to do it? I have already prepared a detailed agenda/set of questions here…

I have done episodes with NASA before, I had visited Ames and did episodes on astrobiology, flight simulation and others.

An official policy is in the works. Basically, it says to use good judgment and distinguishes between official communications, professional communications (non-public affairs but job-related) and personal communications. Stay tuned.

Great talking to you on the phone last week. Good luck with the upcoming tweetup. Its great that you are a protruding stake, I feel that way as well as a I see the dumbfounded looks in my bosses/coworkers faces as I tell them my ideas — I just happened to tell an idea recently to an open minded Director who said “okay, lets do it” and now I am doing what I love at Goddard, Web, Enterprise 2.0 and Social Media.

I’m an attorney at the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. In 2009 we launched the Online Media Legal Network (OMLN), a free legal referral network that helps independent journalists and online publishers find free legal help. The network provides assistance in a broad range of legal issues, including pre-publication review of content, copyright counseling and licensing, freelancer agreements, and representation in litigation.

We’re reaching out to the community of science journalists and scientists who blog about their work or comment upon science coverage in the news media. Our services are completely free, but we do have some limitations on who we can help. If you would like to learn more about our project, I encourage you to visit our website at http://www.omln.org or email me directly.

Please also feel free to spread the word about OMLN and to fellow scientists and science journalists!

Hey Janet! Are you on facebook? David just joined. Last I talked with David, you had a couple of books out. I went back to our reunion for the first time in forever. Quite emotional driving by your old house. I pictured the station wagon parked in the driveway. That’s where Carol and I sat at nights listening to the radio. Hope all is well. :) Let’s connect — http://www.facebook.com/beth.beck

Hi!
Nice Blog!
Cool job you have showing the world the amazing things you folks do there.

I have a pet project I want to promote to you involving getting photographer Trey ratcliff to visit the NASA Centers and work his magic. I have suggested to him that he try and make a Tweetup at KSC for a launch. I hope that over the course of the next year he will be able to visit all the Centers and make some amazing photographs. I think Nasa, Trey and anyone who likes amazing pictures of space stuff (like me) would benefit greatly.

Hi, Beth!
I am from Russian broadcast corporation ) and we’re looking for an opportunity to take a 1-minute congratulation from foreign colleagues according to anniversary of the first human spaceflight on 12 Apr 1961 by Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin as Cosmonautics Day
and NASA’s specialist comment would be great honour for us

I’m very interested in your work with LAUNCH! I’d love the opportunity to learn more about this endeavor and your work at LAUNCH. I’m working on an initiative to create an innovation platform to catalyze technologies for social impact. What is the best way to connect with you? Thank you!
Best, T

Hi Beth….It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you but your Mom has kept me posted through the years….that’s my reason for contacting you…I did not get my annual birthday card from her and am concerned. Hope all is well…..

Don’t know where to begin. Your vocal approach is quite unique, and despite of the hammering you take, please keep up.

I am the head of online marketing for IQPC, a conferences company, and we run quite a few Pharma conferences. As you are an influential scientist, I’d like to offer you a free day-pass to any of our events. If you are interested, just take a look. http://bit.ly/PharmaConferences

Don’t worry, I am not trying to sell anything, and there are no strigns attached. If you like it, take it. If not, no problem.

Good evening! I came across your blog while doing some research for some clients I’m working with, and saw that you’ve previously reviewed Beth Moore material. Beth has a new book that came out in October called Whispers of Hope and I wanted to see if you might be interested in reviewing it. You can find additional information about the book below.

Please let me know if you’re interested in reviewing the book on your blog and I’ll be happy to mail you a copy. We also have copies available for giveaways if you’re interested in hosting one. We’re aiming for reviews to post in November.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Caylen Kyle

Whispers of Hope, Beth Moore

Scripture tells us to pray without ceasing, but how in the world do we do that? In fact, how should we effectively pray to begin with?

Best-selling author Beth Moore addresses these practical and pervasive matters in Whispers of Hope by walking readers through an easy to remember and apply method of prayer, coupled with seventy daily devotionals and followed by prompts to put this prayer method into practice.

Indeed, Whispers of Hope teaches the manifestation process of powerful Word-saturated prayer in response to a daily Bible reading. In turn, you will better understand how devotional reading and prayer are central to a stronger relationship with God.